Newcastle-9

[HH6702]

Dont know if its been reported on here about TUI flying NCL to Sharm from Nov 20 ?


was just about to add tui seems to be adding SSH again from november 2020 from uk airports

[HH6702]

Jet2

will we see Newcastle to Lisbon go on sale next week ??

[jensdad]

Jet2

will we see Newcastle to Lisbon go on sale next week ??
I don't know... will we see Newcastle to Lapeenranta go on sale next week? Or do you have some inside info you can share with us? :)

[tigertanaka]

I don't know... will we see Newcastle to Lapeenranta go on sale next week? Or do you have some inside info you can share with us? :)

There is a lot of speculation around that Jet2 will launch Lisbon next week (not sure where from) which explains HH6702's post.

[HH6702]

Jet2 announcement that it will fly to Lisbon from a number of U.K. AIRPORTS was said by the company to the travel trade paper a few days ago.
there will also be another destination going on sale


Lisbon was on the Airports wish list

[jensdad]

Ah OK. Fingers crossed :)

[Jamesair]

A post on the TUI thread mentions a TUI a/c positioning into NCL from GTW today and then operating a flight to Eindhoven....aircraft involved G-OOBA

[sinbad73]

A post on the TUI thread mentions a TUI a/c positioning into NCL from GTW today and then operating a flight to Eindhoven....aircraft involved G-OOBA

GTW?

LGW?

[Jamesair]

Sorry....LGW...typo

[lfc84]

GTW is the train station !

[skyman771]

A post on the TUI thread mentions a TUI a/c positioning into NCL from GTW today and then operating a flight to Eindhoven....aircraft involved G-OOBA
Interesting... what are the chances of this being the last TUI 757 to visit? Presumably they would all be gone by now if it hadn't been for the MAX ..

[milhouse999]

Has anyone noticed Jet2 seem to have dropped a NCL to CFU from their schedule for 2020 - in the 2019 summer season they flew Mondays and Tuesdays (previously Mondays and Fridays) this has been reduced to just Mondays next year.

Thomas Cook provided 3 a week of this route I believe in Summer 2019 - none of which are being replaced - some of the prices for 2020 with the remaining providers (ie TUI) is eyewatering.

[DanAir89]

Has anyone noticed Jet2 seem to have dropped a NCL to CFU from their schedule for 2020 - in the 2019 summer season they flew Mondays and Tuesdays (previously Mondays and Fridays) this has been reduced to just Mondays next year.

Thomas Cook provided 3 a week of this route I believe in Summer 2019 - none of which are being replaced - some of the prices for 2020 with the remaining providers (ie TUI) is eyewatering.

I think the Tuesday flight was dropped in the first release for 2020. I noted because we went on it this summer. Although full both ways in August it appeared to have loads more availability in the weeks leading up to departure than the Monday flight which was often sold out. Perhaps more money to be made on the Turkish flight thtat I think has replaced it.

in the “old” days Tuesday was never a Corfu day and in fact the airport was very quiet but Jet2 had flights from about 3 bases - perhaps if these are gone too then Tuesday and Corfu don’t go - it may not be a NCL issue.

[milhouse999]

I think the Tuesday flight was dropped in the first release for 2020. I noted because we went on it this summer. Although full both ways in August it appeared to have loads more availability in the weeks leading up to departure than the Monday flight which was often sold out. Perhaps more money to be made on the Turkish flight thtat I think has replaced it.

in the “old” days Tuesday was never a Corfu day and in fact the airport was very quiet but Jet2 had flights from about 3 bases - perhaps if these are gone too then Tuesday and Corfu don’t go - it may not be a NCL issue.



Good points - we do NCL - CFU several times a year - we were spoilt for choice this year and getting flights for £40-50 each way on some occasions, sadly now we've lost 1x Jet2 and 3x TCX on this route some are as high as £700 return at peak 2020 - cheaper to do NCL>LHR>CFU!

Purely for selfish reasons I hope another operator adds capacity. As you say, other routes will probably make more revenue. Surprised Easyjet only has 1 a week to this destination,

[Jamesair]

Jet 2 seems to have restored Corfu to 2 weekly from 1 and increased Zante to 3 weekly from 2 for Summer 20.

[HH6702]

Jet 2 seems to have restored Corfu to 2 weekly from 1 and increased Zante to 3 weekly from 2 for Summer 20.

CFU showing as Monday and Thursday
ZTH showing as Monday Wednesday and Saturday
RHO showing as Wednesday and Saturday
HER showing as Tuesday and Friday

others

AYT X4 weekly
BJV X2 weekly
BOJ x2 weekly
DLM X6 weekly ( 2 on Fridays )

[DanAir89]

Bdaily reporting that for winter 2020 in addition to TUI adding SSH, there will be a Friday flight to HRG, Sunday to ACE and Monday to Enfida. Would appear to be second based aircraft Fri - Mon?

[SWBKCB]

From the 7th November 2020 TUI weekly flights to Sharm El Sheikh will be operating on Saturdays from Newcastle Airport. As well as Sharm El Sheikh for winter 2020, the holiday company will also be introducing new routes to Tunisia (departing weekly on a Monday) and Hurghada (departing weekly on a Friday). TUI have also added 10 and 11 night holidays to Lanzarote with the addition of a weekly flight operating every Sunday from Newcastle airport, giving holidaymakers from the North East more flexibility

TUI UK launches additional 38,000 seats for Winter 2020 from Newcastle Airport (https://www.newcastleairport.com/news-and-reporting/latest-news/tui-uk-launches-additional-38-000-seats-for-winter-2020-from-newcastle-airport/)

[VentureGo]

https://onemileatatime.com/united-airlines-a321xlr (https://onemileatatime.com/united-airlines-a321xlr/)/

Wonder if a return to Newcastle could be on the cards following expansion of Trans Atlantic services, with the acquisition of 50 new A321XLR aircraft. As stated in the article this number of 50 new A321XLRs exceed requirements only to replace their 757 Transatlantic fleet..

From the attached link article:

"What Will United Use A321XLRs For?

Many of us expected that United would order the A321XLR, because it’s a one-of-a-kind airplane. United’s 757 fleet is aging (their 757s are an average of 22 years old), and they need to replace them.

United notes that they plan to use the A321XLR largely for transatlantic flights out of Washington and Newark, with the possibility of serving additional destinations in Europe.

…. If that plan sticks, then it does in fact seem like United plans to significantly expand transatlantic operations with narrow body aircraft. That’s because they don’t need 50 A321XLRs to replace their current transatlantic 757 operations."

[VentureGo]

Emirates EK35 has just aborted landing at NCL and is currently making 2nd attempt. Strong wind gust maybe?

[Falcon900LX]

Emirates EK35 has just aborted landing at NCL and is currently making 2nd attempt. Strong wind gust maybe?

Wind 240° at 17kts, Gusting to 28kts, so without being inspector morse, I’d way you’re right.

[yeo valley]

Wind 240° at 17kts, Gusting to 28kts, so without being inspector morse, I’d way you’re right.
Did the Ek 35 land on second attempt.

[SWBKCB]

Yes, it did.

[HH6702]

new routes to be announced tomorrow let’s hope Newcastle sees something from them 4th aircraft would be nice

[deltahotel9]

Probably no chance of that, NCL expansion not on their radar.

[DanAir89]

Probably no chance of that, NCL expansion not on their radar.


well never mind, amazing how EasyJet with 7 aircraft based at Newcastle at one time allowed Jet 2 with 1 737qc to dominate and displace them at Newcastle!

[SWBKCB]

allowed Jet 2 with 1 737qc to dominate and displace them at Newcastle!

Clearly more money to be made elsewhere!

[DanAir89]

Clearly more money to be made elsewhere!
Predictable response ..🥱

But look how much jet 2 are making 🤗

[SWBKCB]

But accurate - look at how many bases the two airlines have and their repective rate of expansion. EZY tend not to miss open goals - even Jet2 are growing NCL slowly than many of their other bases.

The simple truth is that NCL serves a relatively small, relatively poor market.

[DanAir89]

But accurate - look at how many bases the two airlines have and their repective rate of expansion. EZY tend not to miss open goals - even Jet2 are growing NCL slowly than many of their other bases.

The simple truth is that NCL serves a relatively small, relatively poor market.

While you may be right there about the market, the original post was intended to be positive and pro- NCL!

perhaps easyJet don’t understand the NCL market - Ssh or a turkish flight may have been a good idea. Hamburg perhaps not...

having spoken to a London based agency this week who contacted me about a job in Leeds and suggested it was only a 50min commute it reinforced my view that there is a lot of ignorance about the north east especially In London.

jet2 are following airtours to a certain extent doing really well in northern markets that they understand. It eventually started to go all wrong for Airtours as they moved further south....

[GrahamK]

Given the circumstances, I think the team at NCL are doing pretty decently. The new KH Munich service opens up a lot of Germany, and hopefully it and DUS can co-exist. Loganair seem to be doing well, with Brussels now starting to move upwards despite not having an inter line agreement with SN. AF mainline increasing to 2 x daily next summer- more capacity there. EK seem to have settled down again following the start of EDI flights. Plenty of growth could be seen from them again without going double daily. BA, I'm not sure what's going on with them though them seem to be using more A321s nowadays. Then KLM are always consistent. Yes, the capacity to the Canaries will be down, but yields for the airlines will likely increase

[nighthawk117]

I believe the way Easyjet works is the local base chiefs present proposals for new routes that they think will work, then upper management allocate aircraft to a base depending on the financial forecast they were presented with. So I don't think its really a case of the London office not understanding the Northern market, but more those on the ground being unable to present a plan that compares to those from other bases. Lets not forget Easyjet have bases all across Europe to think about - that's a lot of competition for the aircraft.

Also lets not forget that they both target slightly different market segments - Easyjet is more about city breaks and business travel, while Jet2 are more focused on package holidays and bucket and spade destinations. With the launch of Easyjet holidays recently, we may see a shift in focus in future, which Newcastle may well benefit from.

[DanAir89]

Agree with all of the comments above which are within the spirit of my initial comment, easyJet’s loss for not wanting more Geordie passengers!

[Severn]

easyJet have stayed reasonably stationary over the last few years at NCL.
Ryanair have decreased their presence at NCL over the last few years.
Jet2 have not expanded like some believe and have in-fact stayed stationary similar to easyJet.

The peak-summer weekly departures by Jet2 over the last few years are as follows:
Aug-17 - 96x weekly departures, 7x based aircraft
Aug-18 - 99x weekly departures, 7x based aircraft
Aug-19 - 100x weekly departures, 7x based aircraft
Aug-20 - 100x weekly departures, 7x based aircraft

EMA, BFS, GLA and EDI have also seen very little expansion from Jet2 over the last few summers in comparison to LBA, BHX, STN and MAN which have had large and continued expansion.
Jet2 are now focused on other markets and seem to be happy to keep their smaller bases the same.

TUI however have steadily increased their NCL presence over the last couple of years, and next year will see a significant increase in flights and another based aircraft.

[JonnyH]

Any news on the repair on SX-ABQ? 11 weeks almost now.

[LiamNCL]

easyJet will have to replace the 2x A319 eventually with A320. That will happen before a 4th Aircraft IMO.

[SWBKCB]

I agree, though they've still got a load of 319's left (about 70?). Weren't we the last 737 base?

[Jamesair]

With Rhodes not operating next summer there is a once weekly slot available for a new destination with Easyjet

[JonnyH]

With Rhodes not operating next summer there is a once weekly slot available for a new destination with Easyjet

On the grapevine that it could be DLM. Nothing confirmed yet though.

[Jamesair]

October pax statistic on the ABZ route is 4,020 up 236%....loganair seem to have tapped into a big underserved market.

[HH6702]

October pax statistic on the ABZ route is 4,020 up 236%....loganair seem to have tapped into a big underserved market.

that’s very good.
lets hope it continues

be interesting next summer with Newquay then

[Jamesair]

October highlights

main risers


paris................15,244.... +21%
dusseldorf.....3344 .... + 9%
naples.............3025 ..... +14%
rome................2827.... +10%
amsterdam....30,410......+4%
faro................21,250.....+6%
alicante........ 36,085......+3%
almeria.........1632..........+61%
barcelona...7281.........+6%
girona...........6314........+42%
ibiza................7606........+19%
malaga........26,704........+4%
stavanger.....1146...........+29%
wroclaw.....3783...........+39%
dubai,,,,,,,.,,,19,184.........+5%
cancun.......3926,,,,,,,,,,,+47%

aberdeen......4020......+236%

main fallers

dubrovnik......3090......-12%
larnaca.........5801......-34%
nice................2110......-20%
corfu............2336......-47%
heraklion....4274......-19%
kos...............1813.......-54%
dublin..........17,947.......-8%
funchal.........1444........-14%
mahon....... ....3018........-19%
palma...........34,595.......-4%
reus................4166.......-24%
arrecife.....10,430.......-31%
fuerteventura....3268......-49%
las palmas...4772........-27%
tenerife.......19,2244.....-11%
antalya.........9887.........-16%
bodrum.........1345........-56%
dalaman.......12,677......-21%
prague...........2835.......-13%
gdansk.........2460........-10%
enfidha........1283........-31%
orlando......2375........-22%

bristol......15,346......-9%
cardiff....... 472........-25%
exeter.......3397........-23%
heathrow....40,218.....-13%
jersey.......2817.......-6%
southampton........9827.......-3%

[Jamesair]

RYANAIR.......GERONA now showing in the timetables for Summer 20 operating on TUES and SAT

[NorthEasterner]

It's Girona not Gerona

[ericlday]

Girona is often spelt with an "e" Gerona. Both names are correct but one name is in Spanish and the other is in Catalan.

[CabinCrewe]

It's Girona not Gerona
Was always Gerona (on departure boards and tickets) up until some years ago.

[yeo valley]

Was always Gerona (on departure boards and tickets) up until some years ago.


Even to this day Gerona is shown either way.

[Jamesair]

Merry Christmas to everybody......and "cheers" to a good year for the airport in 2020.

[SWBKCB]

CAA stats are out, with a flat November being an improvement on a poor summer. Clearly still a negative impact from the absence of TCX. Madrid has finally dropped out of the figures but Berlin and Warsaw are still working their way through.

LHR, DXB, AMS, DUB all stable with CDG still growing despite the absence of mainline a/c in the winter. Another 200%+ increase on ABZ.

The airport have been pushing MUC hard in the press and on social media. Lets see how that goes.

[Jamesair]

november 2019

main risers

larnaca............1080 +151%
paphos..............4207 +11%
paris.................13,609 +6%
malta.................2816 +11%
rome................1829 +747%
amsterdam....30,214 +2%
faro.................5289 +22%
funchal..........1654 +51%
alicante........26,999 +16%
malaga.........15,190 +4%
palma..............3009 +104%
stavanger......1031 +12%
antalya...........2900 +49%
dalaman..........1137 + 195%
prague............3163 +75%
krakow...........3183 +9%
wroclaw........3019 +3%

aberdeen.......3728 + 290%

main fallers

brussels...........1490 - 49%
dusseldorf......3972 - 3%
dublin...............17,087 - 2%
arrecife.........19,776 -15%
fuerteventura....3239 -25%
tenerife..........21,178 -4%
geneva...........568 -76%

belfast........20,866 -6%
bristol........14,611 -8%
cardiff..........622 -5%
exeter........3051 -10%
heathrow....38,913 -3%
southampton....8331 -16%

[Jamesair]

The November figure for DUBAI was 17,995 down 1% so stable.

The Geneva figure of 568 pax looks suspiciously low to me, when compared to the usual year round monthly figures. There could be an error here I think.

[highwideandugly]

ATC Thread suggests Air traffic control staffing problems there...hope they get it sorted for the summer traffic!

send them to TIA. Plenty of room there?

[VickersVicount]

The November figure for DUBAI was 17,995 down 1% so stable
What load factor is that? EDI-DXB for Nov wasn't great at 64% (1/3 of EK and 1/3 of QR empty- thats a lots of seats) Nov can often be a strong month too with positive gains and high loads on most of their UK routes.

[HH6702]

What load factor is that? EDI-DXB for Nov wasn't great at 64% (1/3 of EK and 1/3 of QR empty- thats a lots of seats) Nov can often be a strong month too with positive gains and high loads on most of their UK routes.

that’s around 600 pax a day roughly.
guessing around 85% as not all aircraft would have been high seating of 428

428x2 x 30 is 25,680 was the max seats available

[OltonPete]

that’s around 600 pax a day roughly.
guessing around 85% as not all aircraft would have been high seating of 428

428x2 x 30 is 25,680 was the max seats available

Dubai averaged 300 pax per flight at 78% load factor - 34 sectors by 360 seat aircraft, 20 sectors by 428 seat aircraft and 6 sectors by 354 seat aircraft using planespotters.net for configuration and FR24 for registrations

BHX, GLA and MAN were all similar load factors with MAN and BHX also seeing capacity downgrades at times.

Glasgow averaged 274 pax - 76% based on 360 seats, Edinburgh 239 per flight or 67% based on 360 seats but possibly some 354 seat operated (at least one).

Stansted out of interest averaged 277 per flight and again in that same bracket 78% load factor which I suppose indicates something to do with yield management/fares.

Manchester had the highest load factor outside of London, at least 81% but that was only due to the volume of capacity downgrades on EK21 especially.

This is based on all services operating and the accuracy of FR24 and planespotters.net.

Pete

[SWBKCB]

Dubai averaged 300 pax per flight at 78% load factor - 34 sectors by 360 seat aircraft, 20 sectors by 428 seat aircraft and 6 sectors by 354 seat aircraft using planespotters.net for configuration and FR24 for registrations

While we know L/F is only a general sign of how well a route is doing, if we are going to use it surely it should be calculated on the basis of the seats available for sale, rather than what turned up on the day?

Manchester had the highest load factor outside of London, at least 81% but that was only due to the volume of capacity downgrades on EK21 especially.

This sort of proves my point - L/F high, but only because of lower capacity a/c being used. So is MAN doing better than the rest or not?

[OltonPete]

While we know L/F is only a general sign of how well a route is doing, if we are going to use it surely it should be calculated on the basis of the seats available for sale, rather than what turned up on the day?

This sort of proves my point - L/F high, but only because of lower capacity a/c being used. So is MAN doing better than the rest or not?


It is a good point you make as when the seats were first released the route would have been planned and costed at the original aircraft as in BHX's case 2 x 615 seat A388 for 30 days and not with the 7 smaller capacity 388's that actually turned up.

Only the Emirates revenue department know the yield per route and it is all guesswork and even more difficult for those on the outside with Glasgow, Manchester and Edinburgh selling first class whereas BHX and NCL

You can get an indication of some trends when comparing one month to another or to the previous year but beyond that I don't think you can say an awful lot in respect of fact and especially not yield. Even comparing one month or a year is not even fool proof if capacity has been added, reduced or even as simple as the movement of Ramadan and Easter.

Pete

[natmci]

JTR no longer available on TUI for Summer 2020, still up for Summer 2021

Looks like it’s been replaced by NCL-PMI-HUY-PMI-NCL instead of Eurowings operating the HUY sector

Tuesday TFS now operating in the morning with evening DLM

[natmci]

JTR no longer available on TUI for Summer 2020, still up for Summer 2021

Looks like it’s been replaced by NCL-PMI-HUY-PMI-NCL instead of Eurowings operating the HUY sector

Tuesday TFS now operating in the morning with evening DLM

Some more changes from TUI

Monday afternoon DLM looks like it’s being operated with the EDI AC doing EDI-DLM-NCL-DLM-EDI, nothing in place of it yet

AGA on a Thursday no longer available either, nothing in its place either

[HH6702]

AGA cancelled yet again this must be the 3rd time it’s been on sale and never got off the ground.

im expecting a lot more changes this will be due to the on going max aircraft

shame about JTR maybe another operator pick it up

[LiamNCL]

TUI timetable showing JTR on a Thursday afternoon and Agadir 2021 now. Still a spare slot for Monday PM from what i can see.

[VentureGo]

November passenger numbers are now posted on the Airport's website:

https://www.newcastleairport.com/about-your-airport/airport-facts/passenger-statistics/

Total Passengers for November is 304,487 compared to 306,293 for November 2018

Year to date Jan - Nov is 4,957,996 compared to last year Jan - November of 5,095,978 showing a drop of -137,982 passengers over this period.

December 2018 passenger total was 290,042, so depending on this year's December numbers, if similar trend continues showing approx. 20,000 fewer passengers per recent months, the year end is likely to be approx, -160,000 down on 2018 total.

- I wonder how did the airport attain nearly 5.7 million in 2007, which was , in the main, before Emirates service commenced in September of that year. I thought the Airport had grown in terms of number of routes and passenger volume. - Anyone got copy of Airport Timetables 2006 - 2008? - Will be interesting to see what routes / frequencies have been lost over the period since. From memory I think regular daily Braathens services to Oslo, Stavanger & Bergen; More frequencies from Thomson & Airtours to Orlando; Caledonian (CKT) to Goa, India (although I believe this was short lived) ... not sure of any other significant routes, other than possibly larger a/c and more frequent Sabena/SN to Brussels.

[Flightrider]

I can take you back to Summer 1999 ATUK:

Charter aircraft based were 1 x AIH A320, 1 x AMM 757, 1 x FCL 757, 2 x BY 757
Several W patterns from CKT, MON and a lot of away-based aircraft from Cronus, Translift, Onur, Istanbul Airlines, Futura, EuroCypria and Air Malta - most of the Translift, Cronus, Caledonian flying was to Greece.
There were four weekly Orlando charters - one Britannia 767, two Air 2000 767s and one Airtours 767, each positioning in and out for the job!
Air Transat YYZ is one loss on long-haul.

On short-haul, if you assume easyJet is a modern-day replacement for Brymon on Bristol and for Gill on Belfast International; Eurowings has replaced the Gill Dusseldorf service; AF and KL services have changed hands but broadly still there, the big changes are:
LGW CityFlyer ATR72 5 x daily gone
STN Air UK Fokker 50 3 x daily gone
BHX Maersk Air J41 4 x daily gone
OSL daily Braathens 737-500 gone
SVG 2 x daily Braathens 737-500 now one ERJs with Loganair
BRU 4 x daily Sabena Avro RJ85 now two ERJs with Loganair
BHD service gone (was Gill Air)
CPH service gone (was a Brymon Dash 8 that year)
LHR had 4 x BA 757s and 2 x A320s so more capacity than today

Quite a lot of big hits there in terms of route losses.

Before anyone gets too depressed, remember this was the year at TeesSide with a based Airtours A320, five British Midland 737s a day to Heathrow, Gill Air services to Paris, Manchester, Belfast and Aberdeen, an Airtours 767 to Orlando and lots of other charter stuff with Britannia, British Midland high density A321s, Spanair, Onur Air and more. You'd never believe it to look at it now....

[SWBKCB]

The loss of LGW and STN will be significant culprits.

[LiamNCL]

Looking forward from now to next decade surely it is now the job of those who source new routes to bring services like Air Transat back, Aircraft like the A321N and A321LR now coming online the aircraft is designed specifically for these types of thin routes. Newcastle was always connected to Canada way back to the Wardair 747 there isnt a reason why i cannot work again given the right type of Aircraft is now being added to airlines like Transat.

[Skipness One Foxtrot]

Newcastle locals, what’s the rationale for the door to Gates 1-14 being a *one way route?* The BA lounge is down there and my flight is delayed, possibly cancelled, app says vouchers offered but the only BA staff are in an area where you can’t get back to spend in the shops.
I know GLA used to have a similar issue when they stopped people coming back into the lounge from the old domestic pier, is it something to do with stopping arriving domestic passengers buying duty free? Archaic customs rule? Any idea?

[Falcon900LX]

Newcastle locals, what’s the rationale for the door to Gates 1-14 being a *one way route?* The BA lounge is down there and my flight is delayed, possibly cancelled, app says vouchers offered but the only BA staff are in an area where you can’t get back to spend in the shops.
I know GLA used to have a similar issue when they stopped people coming back into the lounge from the old domestic pier, is it something to do with stopping arriving domestic passengers buying duty free? Archaic customs rule? Any idea?

There’s a phone on the wall that the airport advise calling next to the door, one catering outlet should remain open until the last departure. However when I worked there I found myself frequently letting pax back through the door after checking boarding cards as they’d either came through too early, wanted to go back up to the departure area or went to the wrong gate which happened a lot.

Being a ‘domestic arrivals’ corridor, that door should remain closed as there shouldn’t be any international departing PAX mixing with the domestic arrival PAX. - which is the reason the EZY BFS arrivals sometimes are coached inbound when they depart INT. Plus it stops arriving passengers wandering back up into the terminal.
As mentioned before on here it’s actually a DFT rule not the airports.

Hopefully that answers things.

[apaul]

The loss of LGW and STN will be significant culprits. And much lower frequencies to Bristol and Belfast. In 2006 Newcastle had 1.78 million domestic passengers.

[SWBKCB]

CAA stats - biggest decreases between 2018 and 2007 (over 50k)

STANSTED -297,882
GATWICK -107,673
PARIS -89,996
MURCIA -70,738
PRAGUE -63,729
BRISTOL -57,274
SHARM EL SHEIKH -54,900
ROME (CIAMPINO) -53,772

Biggest increases

DUBAI 198,163
ALICANTE 114,157
ARRECIFE 89,333
TENERIFE 59,173
ANTALYA 50,491

[Skipness One Foxtrot]

There’s a phone on the wall that the airport advise calling next to the door, one catering outlet should remain open until the last departure. However when I worked there I found myself frequently letting pax back through the door after checking boarding cards as they’d either came through too early, wanted to go back up to the departure area or went to the wrong gate which happened a lot.
Being a ‘domestic arrivals’ corridor, that door should remain closed as there shouldn’t be any international departing PAX mixing with the domestic arrival PAX. - which is the reason the EZY BFS arrivals sometimes are coached inbound when they depart INT. Plus it stops arriving passengers wandering back up into the terminal.
As mentioned before on here it’s actually a DFT rule not the airports.
Hopefully that answers things.
Except mixing domestic arrivals and international departing passengers happens every day at GLA and EDI to name but two, hence my question. Swissport said it was to prevent arriving domestic passengers buying Duty Free which is what I suspected, except they’re meant to scan your valid boarding card so who knows? Habit I suspect.
My flight ended up departing Gate 20 / Stand 11 so the whole BA Lounge had to reverse ferret all the way back. Thanks!

[JonnyH]

TUI timetable showing JTR on a Thursday afternoon and Agadir 2021 now. Still a spare slot for Monday PM from what i can see.

Chances of Cape Verde with DSA getting it?

[Falcon900LX]

So, our new operator LH... The inaugural flight from NCL is operated by an A319 as we know, however the first week of operations were supposed to be specifically A319, that looks like it's changed.
All days in Feb are operated by A319 equipment except:
4th, 18th, 26th - CRJ 900
11th - E195

Please note info provided is subject to change*
Regards.

[SWBKCB]

Except mixing domestic arrivals and international departing passengers happens every day at GLA and EDI to name but two

It may be allowable, but it's long been accepted as best practice that arriving and departing passengers should be kept seperate.

Chances of Cape Verde with DSA getting it?

Given that Agadir has been dropped again, I'd have thought remote.

[DanAir89]

Chances of Cape Verde with DSA getting it?

Given the current events in the Middle East (and the impact that this may have on bookings to nearby countries) together with #boycottcyprus, location and reputation wise I’d have thought Cape Verde would have been a relatively safe choice and worth a try!

(stands by for tour operators know what they are doing to make a profit comments and “worth a try” isn’t a good business case for a route!)

[LiamNCL]

According to the TUI timetable website Santorini has moved to THU where Agadir was but the holiday website says all holidays to Santorini are gone ? The timetable shows a empty slot on Monday afternoon as a EDI based aircraft is operating the afternoon DLM on a W pattern and Saturday morning as SZG looks to have been palmed off to a 3rd party.

[10 DME ARC]

AGA - We booked AGA with Airtours Feb06 and like this flights cancelled days before start of season and we were just told flights now leave from Manchester! We could have asked for money back I guess, we got nothing in the way of compensation! We trundled down to Manchester with heavy hearts not expecting much but we had a cracking holiday, AGA with it's french influence it's a fab place!

[L66MBD]

I noticed an all white A321 yesterday morning but couldnt catch the reg, anyone know who's it is and what it's doing?

[LiamNCL]

I noticed an all white A321 yesterday morning but couldnt catch the reg, anyone know who's it is and what it's doing?

SX-ABQ Been here since doing repat flights for Thomas Cook in September i believe it is in need of repair but nothing has happened since.

[Flightrider]

Looking forward from now to next decade surely it is now the job of those who source new routes to bring services like Air Transat back

It's the same story at NCL as at CWL, BHX, BFS, EXT, LBA which have all lost their Canada services in recent years. The expat links perhaps aren't quite as strong as links pass through future generations, but I think there is a more fundamental issue. Back in the day, you'd get on a BA LGW-NCL or LGW-MAN flight and find an Air Transat, Nationair, Odyssey, Worldways or Zoom crew positioning as part of a trip pattern to cover operations like NCL-YYZ. It's both inefficient use of crew and worse still, pretty difficult to achieve nowadays given the deterioration of UK domestic air services.

If this is to stand a chance of coming back, three or four airports (normally competitors) need to team up to put together a plan as to how Air Transat could use a 321LR all week and how the crew, maintenance and catering logistics could work with services to YYZ every day from different airports. If you are Air Transat, I don't doubt there are less complicated ways to make use of your aircraft and you don't need to go out looking for headaches like this. If a joined-up solution is provided by the airports working together, it might help to restore regional Toronto services. Otherwise, there isn't a hope.

[VickersVicount]

If a joined-up solution is provided by the airports working together, it might help to restore regional Toronto services. Otherwise, there isn't a hope.
I really don't get how thats would work or be feasible. For TS, I don't think it matters whether they're in BHX, Monday and Nice or Rotterdam tuesday. Anyway with AC pulling the strings, TS will dwindle in regional routes not expand.

[highwideandugly]

I remember when..Odyssey Airlines of Canada for a couple of years operated to Canada.Not only that they used to tech stop with the B757 aircraft en route Canada from and to Europe..30 years ago ish?

[Flightrider]

I really don't get how thats would work or be feasible. For TS, I don't think it matters whether they're in BHX, Monday and Nice or Rotterdam tuesday. Anyway with AC pulling the strings, TS will dwindle in regional routes not expand.


It clearly does matter though, as they've retrenched to LGW, MAN and GLA only in the UK where they have a high frequency of service. All of the regional "hangers-on" have been dropped, one by one, and there is no sign of these being restored despite the arrival of the NextGen 757, aka the A321LR. Whether AC will lead to a change of strategy at TS is a different matter, and I wouldn't like to guess how that will pan out.

[Asturias56]

"need to team up to put together a plan as to how Air Transat could use a 321LR all week and how the crew, maintenance and catering logistics could work with services to YYZ every day from different airports."

Doesn't work - people travelling on Business want a flight every day (well at least every working day) to/from the same airport. Having to fiddle about deciding that because you suddenly change the day of you return you'll be arriving back in Manchester rather than NCL isn't acceptable.

Air Canada used to have enough problems when they alternated daily flights from LHR - Calgary - Vancouver with LHR - Edmonton - Vancouver. People didn't like it at all

PS The real problem is that Canada is a damn big place and doesn't get that many UK tourists - and if you do they don't want to go to Toronto but the Rockies and Vancouver - so you have business travelers and tourists disconnected in a small market covering a big country - not a recipe for success TBH

[Jamesair]

Loganair are putting an E145 on the morning and evening flights to ABERDEEN w.e.f. 13th January to cope with the heavy demand for seats.

[VentureGo]

December passenger figures are now posted on the airport's website for December show total passengers for the month at 294,744 compared with 290,042 for December 2018. - First month for a while showing an increase (albeit slight) compared to same period in 2018.

Total Passengers for the year on year (Jan-Dec) comparison are: 5,252,740 (2019) vs. 5,386,020 (2018) a reduction of 133,280. (- 2.5%)
https://www.newcastleairport.com/about-your-airport/airport-facts/passenger-statistics/

[natmci]

Monday afternoon gap with TUI now filled with NBE, now up to 2 flights a week

[VentureGo]

https://bdaily.co.uk/articles/2020/01/10/loganair-bolsters-commitment-to-north-east-with-newcastle-united-partnership

Loganair bolsters commitment to North East with Newcastle United partnershipRegional airline Loganair has confirmed its commitment to the North East region with the a new partnership with Premier League club Newcastle United.

The partnership will see Loganair advertising at live televised Premier League games from January 18.

Loganair has also announced that to celebrate the partnership, customers booking flights from Newcastle between January 9 and February 29 will be entered into a competition to win one of four signed Newcastle United home shirts.

Kay Ryan, chief commercial officer at Loganair, commented: “We are delighted to announce our partnership with Newcastle United. Travellers from the North East can now fly from Newcastle to Norway as well as other destinations in Belgium, Cornwall and the Channel Islands.
" Dale Aitchison, head of commercial at Newcastle United FC, added: “We are delighted to welcome Loganair, the UK’s fastest growing airline, onboard as our newest Associate Partner.

“Loganair is not only showing a huge commitment to Newcastle United but the North East region as a whole and we look forward to working closely with the team to raise awareness of the routes from Newcastle Airport.”

The news comes in the same week that the airline announced the introduction of a larger aircraft on its Newcastle to Aberdeen route. ......

[Jamesair]

Jet 2 have put on an additional flight to ALICANTE making 10 weekly (up from 9) for summer 20.

[LiamNCL]

Santorini holidays back on sale , flight just changed to a Thursday.

[JonnyH]

Few go arounds, diversions and late departures today due to the high winds.

[PintofDoom]

I have heard from a few former colleagues that Eastern are looking at removing an aircraft from NCL and their ABZ service will be cut.

Seems like eastern cannot compete with Loganair, which i'm not surprised as most PAX would prefer the comfort of the ERJs to a J41.

[fjencl]

How many based aircraft do eastern airways have at NCL and where do they operate to and from.

[PintofDoom]

They currently have just 2 J41s.

And operate NCL - ABZ, NCL-CWL-VLY with these aircraft

[Falcon900LX]

Depending on how Eastern ops feel each week, it’s either 1 or 2 based. The one aircraft used to do NCL > ABZ > Wick > ABZ > NCL then on certain days CWL. Not sure of the eastern programme of recent as it’s so sporadic.

[Letsflycwl]

Depending on how Eastern ops feel each week, it’s either 1 or 2 based. The one aircraft used to do NCL > ABZ > Wick > ABZ > NCL then on certain days CWL. Not sure of the eastern programme of recent as it’s so sporadic.

CWL have their own based J41 for the PSO route to VLY, this operates CWL-VLY-CWL-NCL-ABZ then correct me if I’m wrong another J41 does ABZ-NCL-CWL-VLY-CWL.

[s_insania]

CWL have their own based J41 for the PSO route to VLY, this operates CWL-VLY-CWL-NCL-ABZ then correct me if I’m wrong another J41 does ABZ-NCL-CWL-VLY-CWL.

Correct, this is how it’s meant to go unless flights are cancelled. Ironically, today was meant to be the first Sunday NCL-CWL-NCL service and they cancelled it. What a way to start

[LiamNCL]

easyJet have added a 2nd Weekly CFU on Thursdays this summer starting 30th April

[chris1001]

I am surprised that the airports marketing department aren’t pushing Munich’s accessibility to the Austrian Alps. Some of the best ski resorts in the world are only a couple of hours drive from Munich and the new service makes long weekend trips much easier.

The Lufthansa terminal is a far slicker experience than the hell hole that Geneva is in ski season. Tickets are very cheap for many dates which suggests lack of demand so I just hope the service is a success. Far better to have a flag carrier on the route than EasyJet or Jet2 for connections and the rarity of inbound passengers.

[Hipennine]

I am surprised that the airports marketing department aren’t pushing Munich’s accessibility to the Austrian Alps. Some of the best ski resorts in the world are only a couple of hours drive from Munich and the new service makes long weekend trips much easier.

The Lufthansa terminal is a far slicker experience than the hell hole that Geneva is in ski season. Tickets are very cheap for many dates which suggests lack of demand so I just hope the service is a success. Far better to have a flag carrier on the route than EasyJet or Jet2 for connections and the rarity of inbound passengers.

Yes, and as I have reminded before, skis/boards go free on Lufty on anything but Lite fares, and that is a major saving compared to EZY, Jet2, BA, KLM, etc. Current car hire rates on the usual comparative sites are generally way less at MUC than GVA.

[SWBKCB]

To be fair, I've seen more promotion by the airport for the new MUC route than any other I can remember.

[JSCL]

Have you ever tried driving in to Switzerland?

Don't forget you'll need to pay for a vignette in addition to the car rental company fees for cross-border. Driving across the Swiss border isn't always an easy task if you don't have Swiss plates on.. expect to be searched.

Also hiring a car in Switzerland during ski season, you're likely to have a car supplied with winter tyres on. In Munich? I doubt it. Not as simple as it seems from the armchair.

[tigertanaka]

Have you ever tried driving in to Switzerland?

Don't forget you'll need to pay for a vignette in addition to the car rental company fees for cross-border. Driving across the Swiss border isn't always an easy task if you don't have Swiss plates on.. expect to be searched.

Also hiring a car in Switzerland during ski season, you're likely to have a car supplied with winter tyres on. In Munich? I doubt it. Not as simple as it seems from the armchair.

From personal experience I can say that it can be hard to get a car with winter tyres in Munich, even if you have specified winter tyres when booking. No issues getting into Austria of course but you wouldn't want to drive in the mountains without winter tyres.

[chris1001]

Have you ever tried driving in to Switzerland?

Don't forget you'll need to pay for a vignette in addition to the car rental company fees for cross-border. Driving across the Swiss border isn't always an easy task if you don't have Swiss plates on.. expect to be searched.

Also hiring a car in Switzerland during ski season, you're likely to have a car supplied with winter tyres on. In Munich? I doubt it. Not as simple as it seems from the armchair.

Armchair? I do this regularly so I am the one with experience thank you. Flew to ZRH a month back and into Austria. No queue whatsoever at border.

I flew often from Man or EDI to Munich but next month from NCL which will save 4 hours minimum each way, You pay €10 for 10 days for the Austrian vignette. Nearly all the cars from MUC have winter tyres and yes the rental costs are far cheaper than GVA and far less chance of being caught speeding.

Plus Hipennine is correct in saying that you don’t pay for skies on Lufthansa economy flex saving around £75 return compared to the locos.

All I was saying is that the airport have missed an marketing opportunity to get the route off to the best possible start by not promoting Munich’s proximity to the likes of Kitzbuhel, Mayrhofen and so forth. Times have changed and most people don’t want a charter for a week into Innsbruck or Salzburg.

[jensdad]

To be fair, I've seen more promotion by the airport for the new MUC route than any other I can remember.
Absolutely. To the extent where they are running facebook ads saying you can ''now'' fly to Budapest with Lufthansa for ''just £x'', when BA do it for cheaper (I've been on here before about how NCL management don't seem to value BA enough. But I'll stop whingeing :) )
Yes, the marketing department have really pulled their finger out on this new MUC route.

[Asturias56]

Have you ever tried driving in to Switzerland?

Don't forget you'll need to pay for a vignette in addition to the car rental company fees for cross-border. Driving across the Swiss border isn't always an easy task if you don't have Swiss plates on.. expect to be searched.

Also hiring a car in Switzerland during ski season, you're likely to have a car supplied with winter tyres on. In Munich? I doubt it. Not as simple as it seems from the armchair.


I've done it quite a few times and never been stopped at all......................... and have left without realising I'd crossed the border (by mistake) as well............

[JonnyH]

Any news on when SX-ABQ will be on the move? Last update on this thread was back in November with no repair until payment.

It doesn’t look like Olympus do much in the way of winter ops but they must have accumulated a fair hit on airport fees from sitting here the last 4 months one would imagine.

[SWBKCB]

Any news on when SX-ABQ will be on the move?

It's not expected to leave the airport any time soon.

[LiamNCL]

Any news on when SX-ABQ will be on the move?

Its officially down as being stored at NCL. The other 2x A321 in the fleet are stored at Teruel Spain.

[NCL-TRC]

Seems Loganair have killed off Eastern, CWL service ends 4th Feb and seems to have switched to MME. ABZ will be operated just once daily on an ATR72 from the 10th meaning the base will close.

[Letsflycwl]

Seems Loganair have killed off Eastern, CWL service ends 4th Feb and seems to have switched to MME. ABZ will be operated just once daily on an ATR72 from the 10th meaning the base will close.

Apparently Eastern/Flybe are just operating a Sunday service between CWL & NCL with the daily CWL-ABZ going via MME.

Lets hope Loganair takeover the NCL-CWL-NCL route.

[PintofDoom]

The cwl -ncl route isn't viable, which is one of the reasons for easterns switch. Loganair would be better serving ncl-bhx or ncl-cbg

[NCL-TRC]

CWL used to attract a decent load when it was twice daily, when it went down to a single lunchtime departure it didn’t help.

if Loganair wanted to operate CWL then we’d need another aircraft, the only spare time is between 0910 ABZ arrival and the SVG going at 1300 but I believe that’s the time slot the BGO will eventually fill.

[VickersVicount]

how attractive are the fares? Loganair not renowned for attractive fares.
What is the alternative? Long winded train?

[PDXCWL45]

how attractive are the fares? Loganair not renowned for attractive fares.
What is the alternative? Long winded train?
The alternative is a 7 to 8 hour train journey which is expensive. The other option is to go to England and fly from Bristol or Heathrow.

[SWBKCB]

Loganair not renowned for attractive fares.

They are compared to Eastern!

[Saabdriver1]

The cwl -ncl route isn't viable, which is one of the reasons for easterns switch.

Give us a clue - how does switching CWL-NCL to become CWL-MME solve the problem of either route not being viable?

[HH6702]

Give us a clue - how does switching CWL-NCL to become CWL-MME solve the problem of either route not being viable?

government cash helps

[SWBKCB]

Clearly tied in with the other route announcements at MME today, and it would be surprising if there wasn't some sort of start up support from the Mayor (who is getting his money from Central Government).

Given the number of schedule changes and non-ops, MME-ABZ has been struggling. LM also must be impacting Eastern at NCL.

[Falcon900LX]

Any news on when SX-ABQ will be on the move? Last update on this thread was back in November with no repair until payment.

It doesn’t look like Olympus do much in the way of winter ops but they must have accumulated a fair hit on airport fees from sitting here the last 4 months one would imagine.

Whilst it is officially being stored here, the state of the aircraft Is appalling. The repair is now just covered by speed tape. The door still has the notice on it which states the aircraft is detained at NCL. However, my friend noticed there were 2 new tyres on it. Which then begs to say, why put new shoes on a dying horse? It is most certainly going to be used in the coming months, Olympus have only just acquired a new aircraft.

[N707ZS]

SX-ABQ at twenty years old it must be near its end.

[Flying Hi]

Whilst it is officially being stored here, the state of the aircraft Is appalling. The repair is now just covered by speed tape. The door still has the notice on it which states the aircraft is detained at NCL. However, my friend noticed there were 2 new tyres on it. Which then begs to say, why put new shoes on a dying horse? It is most certainly going to be used in the coming months, Olympus have only just acquired a new aircraft.
Question - wouldn't the engines need regular, periodic running to avoid invalidating its CofA and big servicing issues once whatever the damage to airframe/ was/is?

[JonnyH]

Whilst it is officially being stored here, the state of the aircraft Is appalling. The repair is now just covered by speed tape. The door still has the notice on it which states the aircraft is detained at NCL. However, my friend noticed there were 2 new tyres on it. Which then begs to say, why put new shoes on a dying horse? It is most certainly going to be used in the coming months, Olympus have only just acquired a new aircraft.

I had heard that it was due to move at the end of the month but the condition of the aircraft is terrible.

It does beg the question, which was mentioned a few months ago within this thread, was the aircraft flying whilst in a unsafe condition? It had already sustained damage before arriving at NCL, allegedly, and the damage it has sustained was unlikely to be caused in mid-air... and TUI were using them last summer and possibly this summer. It doesn’t sound too good and I wouldn’t want to fly with these chancers.

[VickersVicount]

the fact it is not flying with plans for repair would suggest they are far from 'chancers'

[JonnyH]

the fact it is not flying with plans for repair would suggest they are far from 'chancers'

Not necessarily true. They wanted repairs prior to payment which was refused. The airport put measures in place to prevent the aircraft leaving and this was back in October.

The damage wasn’t sustained at NCL and therefore the plane wasn’t fit for service upon arrival. IMO, and it is just my opinion, they are chancers.

[DanAir89]

I had heard that it was due to move at the end of the month but the condition of the aircraft is terrible.

It does beg the question, which was mentioned a few months ago within this thread, was the aircraft flying whilst in a unsafe condition? It had already sustained damage before arriving at NCL, allegedly, and the damage it has sustained was unlikely to be caused in mid-air... and TUI were using them last summer and possibly this summer. It doesn’t sound too good and I wouldn’t want to fly with these chancers.

perhaps it’s TUI’s 4th based aircraft for this summer 🙄

[GrahamK]

Dusseldorf dropped for W20/21?

[jensdad]

The cwl -ncl route isn't viable, which is one of the reasons for easterns switch. Loganair would be better serving ncl-bhx or ncl-cbg
Newcastle-Cambridge would be a strange one. Not a criticism, I don't know if you're aware of a specific market (academic or business?) that I'm not aware of.

[VentureGo]

Lufthansa Reveals Major Shake-up of Eurowingshttps://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2019-06-24/lufthansa-reveals-major-shake-eurowings

Reductions in schedules to Dusseldorf from April this year, as is the case to other UK airports e.g. Edinburgh etc...

LGW Dash Q400's leaving the fleet and a reduction in Eurowngs Airbus fleet of 10 to 20 percent (ref. linked article above)

Dusseldorf dropped for W20/21?

[Flying Hi]

Newcastle-Cambridge would be a strange one. Not a criticism, I don't know if you're aware of a specific market (academic or business?) that I'm not aware of.
BHX - NCL? Now there's a delightful thought. From our location west of Birmingham it's a 4hr (min) slog (5 on a bad day) including the traffic solid A1 from M18 onwards.
Bristol based colleagues {in my working life) could , and still can, jump on Easyjet BRS - NCL. They were still in bed when I had to set off. Lol.

[PintofDoom]

A connection to CBG would have its advantages for the medical/pharmaceutical industries along with technology companies and academics along side VFR(Plenty of northern students at cambridge) and other busniess travel needs where the train can be impractical taking up to 4 hours with changes.

A connection to BHX was viable until T3 messed it up changing the depart and arrival times which eventually made the service pointless for business day trips. A twice daily service to provide a full business day each way could be a very fruitful route as the trains are direct, although take up to 3.5 hours and the voyagers Class 220/221s are not the most pleasant for longish journeys.

[commit aviation]

Cambridge airport is due to close before 2030 so I can’t see any airline looking to start new services there.

[nighthawk117]

LGW Dash Q400's leaving the fleet and a reduction in Eurowngs Airbus fleet of 10 to 20 percent (ref. linked article above)

The article doesn't mention a reduction in the airbus fleet of 10-20 percent. It says the short-haul fleet will be reduced by 10-20 percent - this will mainly be due to the removal of the Dash8.

Specifically it mentions the 9 oldest A320s will leave the fleet at the end of the year, to be replaced by 4x A320NEOs in 2021 and 16 in 2022. Overall thats an increase in the A320 fleet size.

[VentureGo]

The article doesn't mention a reduction in the airbus fleet of 10-20 percent. It says the short-haul fleet will be reduced by 10-20 percent - this will mainly be due to the removal of the Dash8.

Yes, you could be correct, - although I read the article as the Dash8 fleet. counted separately, being owned by LGW (Luftfahrtgesellschaft Walter), bought by Lufthansa in 2017 and subsequently sold on to Zeitfracht Group last year with a long term leasing agreement to operate newer E190's (replacing Dash8) for Eurowings

[FQTLSteve]

BHX-NCL usedto be 4 Daily week days and 1 Sunday from 90's right through till Eastern took over in 2006 (?) then they gradually ran it down, and charged too much you get as low as £49 return with BA at times. From memory they were ex BHX 08:00, 11:15, 15:00 and 18:30 +/- but near enough perfect for not only day business trips but half day too.

[simoncorbett]

BHX-NCL usedto be 4 Daily week days and 1 Sunday from 90's right through till Eastern took over in 2006 (?) then they gradually ran it down, and charged too much you get as low as £49 return with BA at times. From memory they were ex BHX 08:00, 11:15, 15:00 and 18:30 +/- but near enough perfect for not only day business trips but half day too.

I used this flight several times before it got shelved & cheapest I got flight for was £90 1 way, but flight so much better than rail .... which I use now at around £50 1 way.....

[JonnyH]

BHX-NCL usedto be 4 Daily week days and 1 Sunday from 90's right through till Eastern took over in 2006 (?) then they gradually ran it down, and charged too much you get as low as £49 return with BA at times. From memory they were ex BHX 08:00, 11:15, 15:00 and 18:30 +/- but near enough perfect for not only day business trips but half day too.

When have you ever seen a £49 return with BA from here?

[FQTLSteve]

I have actually on more than once paid £49 return BHX-NCL when op by BA on the J41 back in 2000 and 2001 you had to stay Saturday night in either destinaton to get it but it was only £49 return I kid you not, and full service on board and bags too.

[VentureGo]

I have actually on more than once paid £49 return BHX-NCL when op by BA on the J41 back in 2000 and 2001 you had to stay Saturday night in either destinaton to get it but it was only £49 return I kid you not, and full service on board and bags too.

I regularly flew NCL -BHX - NCL during this period, and mid week daily return was quite competitive when compared to rail or even car, as journey times using rail or car necessitated overnight hotel stays to allow business meetings etc... I would imagine the route could be very successful if timings were appropriate to allow daily morning and evening returns. Surprised even easyJet have not seen potential, considering their success with multiple daily rotations to BRS and BFS. XCountry trains are always packed,from Newcastle to Birmingham, so plenty of demand.

[tigertanaka]

I regularly flew NCL -BHX - NCL during this period, and mid week daily return was quite competitive when compared to rail or even car, as journey times using rail or car necessitated overnight hotel stays to allow business meetings etc... I would imagine the route could be very successful if timings were appropriate to allow daily morning and evening returns. Surprised even easyJet have not seen potential, considering their success with multiple daily rotations to BRS and BFS. XCountry trains are always packed,from Newcastle to Birmingham, so plenty of demand.

The train to Birmingham from the North East is soul destroying - it seems to take forever. If the government were to make changes to APD (as has been hinted at), it might really open up some interesting domestic routes for U2.

[DanAir89]

The train to Birmingham from the North East is soul destroying - it seems to take forever. If the government were to make changes to APD (as has been hinted at), it might really open up some interesting domestic routes for U2.

I’d second that! Have flown in the past but now train is the only option. Never been on time arriving or leaving New Street.

[JonnyH]

February to April and October to November have been added for Northern Lignts trips by Jet2.

[VickersVicount]

DXB down 1 % Dec CAA Stats
(GLA and EDI both up)

[GrahamK]

LH to Munich finally starts. Let's hope all the advertising by the airport has paid off.

[Cautious Optimist]

I hear tomorrow it's a CRJ so possibly not!

[SWBKCB]

I hear tomorrow it's a CRJ so possibly not!

Been planned as such for months. I think also the next few Tuesday's - quietest day of the week at the quietest time of the year.

[tigertanaka]

I was on the NCL=MUC flight today. If the plane holds 138 passengers, I would say there were 110 on board (including 20 competition winners). There were quite a few passengers on the inbound fligh5 too which was encouraging.

There were a couple of speeches at the gate together and the airport had laid on a nice buffet and Buck’s Fizz. All passengers were presented with a traditional gingerbread and an inaugural flight certificate.

[ash666]

Sounds good. I hope they make a go of it.
How far from the airport to the city or, if you were just passing on to somewhere else what was that experience like?

[LiamNCL]

CR9 today then a E195 next week other than that its A319

[tigertanaka]

Sounds good. I hope they make a go of it.
How far from the airport to the city or, if you were just passing on to somewhere else what was that experience like?

Terminal 2 (mainly Star Alliance) is really modern and smart, a totally different world to Terminal 1 (most other airlines) which feels very old in comparison.

I was on my way to ARN so only stayed in the airport (which has it's own brewery by the way). However I have been to Munich a few times before, it is about 40 minutes on the train to the city centre (from memory, tickets were pretty cheap). It is a great city and brilliant for a weekend break.

[ash666]

Terminal 2 (mainly Star Alliance) is really modern and smart, a totally different world to Terminal 1 (most other airlines) which feels very old in comparison.

I was on my way to ARN so only stayed in the airport (which has it's own brewery by the way). However I have been to Munich a few times before, it is about 40 minutes on the train to the city centre (from memory, tickets were pretty cheap). It is a great city and brilliant for a weekend break.

Thanks.
ARN = Stockholm?
How was the transfer process?

[tigertanaka]

Thanks.
ARN = Stockholm?
How was the transfer process?

Yes Stockholm Arlanda. The transfer process was fine, no bag scanning required and just a quick passport check to enter the Schengen area. I did have a short train ride to the departure gate but it took 2 minutes.

[ash666]

Yes Stockholm Arlanda. The transfer process was fine, no bag scanning required and just a quick passport check to enter the Schengen area. I did have a short train ride to the departure gate but it took 2 minutes.

Thanks very much.
I will have to have a look at their departure board to see where they fly to.

[LiamNCL]

Lufthansa doing their bit posting on social media a picture of the Tyne & Millenium bridge as its City of the Month which has recieved over 17,000 likes.

[tigertanaka]

Thanks very much.
I will have to have a look at their departure board to see where they fly to.

Just another point, the prices were extremely competitive. I fly to Sweden about 15 times a year and I paid £212 on Lufthansa - BA and KLM are normally £300+ when booking a couple of weeks beforehand. NCL-MUC-ARN return was far cheaper than doing the same dates for just NCL-MUC and a one way ticket was far more than a return.

[GrahamK]

Jet2 have added the following Xmas market breaks for Nov/Dec 2020:

Vienna- 8 flights
Copenhagen - 1 flight
Strasbourg - 1 flight
Berlin Brandenbourg - 2 flights
Cologne - 1 flight
Nurembourg - 1 flight
Budapest - 10 flights

In addition to the Newark and Iceland trips already announced

[GrahamK]

Ryanair to Girona seems to have been removed from sale again

[Falcon900LX]

I was on the NCL=MUC flight today. If the plane holds 138 passengers, I would say there were 110 on board (including 20 competition winners). There were quite a few passengers on the inbound fligh5 too which was encouraging.

There were a couple of speeches at the gate together and the airport had laid on a nice buffet and Buck’s Fizz. All passengers were presented with a traditional gingerbread and an inaugural flight certificate.

Pax fig was 89 from NCL & 56 inbound NCL.

[VickersVicount]

Pax fig was 89 from NCL & 56 inbound NCL.
Pretty low for a high publicity inaugural...? Mmm.

[SWBKCB]

Pretty low for a high publicity inaugural...? Mmm.

and if it had been full both ways the comment would have been "What do you expect for a high publicity inaugural...?"

Clearly one days pax figures mean nowt.... :ok:

[Falcon900LX]

and if it had been full both ways the comment would have been "What do you expect for a high publicity inaugural...?"

Clearly one days pax figures mean nowt.... :ok:
day 2 was 26, today was 60. It won’t be overnight that these things come good. Time will tell obviously but I’m confident this route will over time improve.

[LiamNCL]

Munich will come good give it a chance.

[ash666]

What it needs is for NUFC to arrange a friendly (God knows it will never be in a cup)against Bayern Munich.

[YoungJerry]

With the Eurowings flight also still running, to some extent Lufthansa are competing with themselves to destinations within Germany and to some European destinations. They even depart within around 2 hours of each other.

I've just done my bit for the route though and booked a return from Berlin at Easter, for a similar price I paid for my Eurowings flight at Christmas.

About 15 rows are already fully reserved on the seat selector for the return, with 4 rows of Business Class.

[jensdad]

Negativity about the Munich route and the football team in the space of two hours. You can tell which thread we're on!

(don't take that personally, VV and ash. It's all good stuff: we all want the North East to be successful and we get frustrated when it isn't always :) )

[ash666]

My main gripe would be the departure time.
OK to go to Munich but if travelling on then an arrival time at MUC of 16.35 plus my minimum transfer time of 2 hours (I've seen many people come to grief only allowing 1 hour on the KLM flight to AMS) then whatever flights are available after that are going to land pretty late at the destination.
OK if it is a very familiar route but not as a first time visitor.

[PorkyPig76]

Can anyone explain why when looking at the seating chart for the Lufthansa flights rows 19-21 and 24-25 are always taken? This is for every flight both ways

[NorthEasterner]

I believe it is usually to help with the trim (if it is not a full / busy flight). As well as for wheelchair / ambu-lift passengers which are often seated at the rear.

[Matt4]

Looks like the LH is cancelled tomorrow, according to flight radar and it’s not for sale on the Lufthansa website. Not a good start for only operating a few days

[SWBKCB]

Looks like the LH is cancelled tomorrow, according to flight radar and it’s not for sale on the Lufthansa website. Not a good start for only operating a few days

or one of many cancellations due to storm Sabine? DUS also cancelled.

Lufthansa warns of flight cancellations ahead of storm Sabine (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-lufthansa-cancellation/lufthansa-warns-of-flight-cancellations-ahead-of-storm-sabine-idUSKBN2020JT)

[VickersVicount]

lots of cancellations. BA, EI at GLA all cancelled tomorrow AM too.
No wonder after all the go-aounds and EK diversion (GLA-MAN for fuel)

[Matt4]

or one of many cancellations due to storm Sabine? DUS also cancelled.

Lufthansa warns of flight cancellations ahead of storm Sabine (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-lufthansa-cancellation/lufthansa-warns-of-flight-cancellations-ahead-of-storm-sabine-idUSKBN2020JT)

ahhh yes of course I forgot about that makes sense

[JonnyH]

Looks like we may pick up a few diversions today. CDG-MAN currently on its way.

[LiamNCL]

G-POWH has arrived and Wizz G-WUKG approaching. Not bad weather at all in Newcastle even some sunshine.

[Skyflier]

My main gripe would be the departure time.
OK to go to Munich but if travelling on then an arrival time at MUC of 16.35 plus my minimum transfer time of 2 hours (I've seen many people come to grief only allowing 1 hour on the KLM flight to AMS) then whatever flights are available after that are going to land pretty late at the destination.
OK if it is a very familiar route but not as a first time visitor.

Connecting LH to LH at MUC or any *A except TK which is in T1, 40 minutes is way more than enough transfer time.

[tigertanaka]

Connecting LH to LH at MUC or any *A except TK which is in T1, 40 minutes is way more than enough transfer time.

I agree (although I am someone who is happy to do a 45 minute Schengen>non-Schengen connection at AMS). At the end of the day is comes down to your attitude to risk and the situation you are in (I am more risk averse on family holidays than for work trips).

[ash666]

It depends if you have luggage or not, I suppose.
I've seen too many people's plans come to grief on 1 hour connections.

[HH6702]

Summer 2021 now on sale

Changes are as follows

KGS Change of operating day to a Thursday
ZTH 3rd flight longer season end of May rather than June until end of season
FNC Change of operating day to a Monday again
GRO -1 flight back to 1 weekly flight
REU -1 flight in high season 2 rather than 3 in July/Aug
AYT +1 flight now 5 weekly flights
TFS +1 flight now 6 weekly flights

the rest seen to be same

Budapest is on sale for this coming winter 2020/21 2x weekly

[HH6702]

anybody heard that TUI are going to use 2 aircraft leased from Avion at newcastle for this summer

[LiamNCL]

anybody heard that TUI are going to use 2 aircraft leased from Avion at newcastle for this summer

No according to TUI forum 9 737s are joining the fleet.

[HH6702]

No according to TUI forum 9 737s are joining the fleet.

yes I seen from jethros fleet listings that they are getting 9 second hand 737’s in time for summer and I’m guessing that we will be getting an increase from sunwing also rumours of around 10 also.

[JonnyH]

Not to sound like a broken record but looks like SX-ABQ has been moved for repairs.

[SWBKCB]

For repairs, or just moved out of the way?

[SWBKCB]

anybody heard that TUI are going to use 2 aircraft leased from Avion at newcastle for this summer

I've heard 2 x Avion Express A.320 and 2 x TUI 738 also, but that was before any mention of an additional 737 deal. Might be superceded, but it might also be that TUI need both the additional 737's and the third party flying.

[Falcon900LX]

Not to sound like a broken record but looks like SX-ABQ has been moved for repairs.
Chartered out again, should be gone by Sunday... :ugh::ugh: Fingers crossed anyway!
I'm not really sure why it's been moved to Golf, however ACG (aircraft capital group) have acquired it as well as a few other end of life A321's for the summer.

[ROC10]

I've heard 2 x Avion Express A.320 and 2 x TUI 738 also, but that was before any mention of an additional 737 deal. Might be superceded, but it might also be that TUI need both the additional 737's and the third party flying.

I think they will still need a fair bit of ACMI unless it ends up being much more than 9x738 (as has been suggested by one poster). Another poster has confirmed Smartlynx will be used at LGW, however these will replace the already planned Norwegian-operated flights (presumably because they will also be struggling with MAX issues). They haven’t been known to use any ACMI at NCL for as long as I can remember but who knows for this summer.

[SWBKCB]

Summer 2021 now on sale

Changes are as follows

KGS Change of operating day to a Thursday
ZTH 3rd flight longer season end of May rather than June until end of season
FNC Change of operating day to a Monday again
GRO -1 flight back to 1 weekly flight
REU -1 flight in high season 2 rather than 3 in July/Aug
AYT +1 flight now 5 weekly flights
TFS +1 flight now 6 weekly flights

the rest seen to be same

Budapest is on sale for this coming winter 2020/21 2x weekly

List below from the Jet2 press release: Over 1.1 million seats in total - a capacity increase of 4%. Over 100 flights departing every week to 33 summer destinations during peak periods.

Canary Islands – up to 14 weekly services to the Canaries including Tenerife (up to six weekly services during peak periods), Lanzarote (up to four weekly services), Gran Canaria (up to two weekly services) and Fuerteventura (up to two weekly services). This means unrivalled choice and flexibility with the UK’s leading operator to the Canaries.
Balearic Islands – 20 weekly services departing to the Balearics during peak periods, with up to 11 weekly services to Majorca, up to six weekly services to Ibiza and up to three weekly services to Menorca.
Greece – up to 11 weekly services to six destinations in Greece. This includes up to three weekly services to Zante, up to two weekly services to Crete (Heraklion), Corfu and Rhodes, as well as a weekly service to Kos and Halkidiki.
Turkey – additional Turkey flying with up to six weekly services to Dalaman, up to five weekly services to Antalya, two weekly services to Bodrum and a weekly service to Izmir.
Mainland Spain – great choice and flexibility to Spanish favourites including Malaga (up to seven services per week), Alicante (up to nine weekly services), Reus (Costa Dorada) (up to three services per week), and weekly services to Girona (Costa Brava) and Costa de Almeria.
Portugal - plenty of choice with up to seven weekly services departing to Algarve (Faro) and one weekly service to Madeira.
Cyprus – two weekly services to Paphos and Larnaca.
Bourgas (Bulgaria) – up to two weekly services to the Balkan sunshine during the peak summer season.
Croatia – two weekly services to Dubrovnik.
Malta – weekly services to Malta for Summer 21.
Italy – two weekly services to Rome and a weekly service to Pisa.
Great choice with Jet2CityBreaks including two weekly services to Krakow and Prague.

[VentureGo]

January passenger figures are now published on the airport's website:

January 2020 total 269,797 vs January 2019 total 275,822 - a drop of 6,025 (-2.2%)

** Compared with January 2018, January 2020 shows a 5% decline on same period!

https://www.newcastleairport.com/about-your-airport/airport-facts/passenger-statistics/

[JonnyH]

I think they will still need a fair bit of ACMI unless it ends up being much more than 9x738 (as has been suggested by one poster). Another poster has confirmed Smartlynx will be used at LGW, however these will replace the already planned Norwegian-operated flights (presumably because they will also be struggling with MAX issues). They haven’t been known to use any ACMI at NCL for as long as I can remember but who knows for this summer.

It could well be on a W pattern which Sunwing did last year.

[GrahamK]

How much longer is the main taxiway under maintenance for?

[SWBKCB]

How much longer is the main taxiway under maintenance for?

Notam valid as:

13 Jan 2020 08:00 GMT TO: 24 Feb 2020 17:00 GMT

[LiamNCL]

SX-ABQ has just left :D

[JonnyH]

SX-ABQ has just left :D

Looks like it’s not going to climb above FL230 for the duration of its journey.

[PorkyPig76]

With passenger numbers declining once again which new routes do you think likely for ncl and when could we see these begin? We still have gaps left after the demise of tcx waiting to be filled...

[SWBKCB]

Which TCX routes are still unserved?

[PorkyPig76]

Which TCX roues are still unserved?

not unserved but there are obviously reductions in frequency

[VentureGo]

With passenger numbers declining once again which new routes do you think likely for ncl and when could we see these begin? We still have gaps left after the demise of tcx waiting to be filled...

The Airport's Masterplan 2035 (page 20-21 Figure 6) link below, suggests routes being looked at by the Airport for future growth:

https://www.newcastleairport.com/2035-masterplan/

Examples include:
Canada: Toronto
U.S.A: Atlanta (Major US hub for Delta Air Lines) * Map was prepared when the Airport had a direct connection to Newark NYC with United
Asia: Delhi
China: Beijing, Shanghai
Norway: Oslo
Turkey: Istanbul
Europe: Athens, Budapest, Hamburg, Berlin, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Zurich, Toulouse. Munich (now served)

[Jamesair]

TUI SUMMER 2021

Changes noted

PALMA 5 weekly (up from 4)
SHARM EL SHEIK ....1 weekly (new route)

[VickersVicount]

Mmm not sure about those ambitions. Nice to aim (very) high though...

Examples include:
Canada: Toronto Maybe at a push
U.S.A: Atlanta No way
Newark NYC with United Whats changed?
Asia: Delhi No way
China: Beijing, Shanghai No way
Norway: Oslo Low cost low frequency
Turkey: Istanbul Perhaps but likely at some EK expense?
Europe: Athens No
Budapest, Hamburg No Berlin Maybe Frankfurt Maybe, Stuttgart, No Zurich No, Toulouse No Munich (now served)

[NCL-TRC]

Mmm not sure about those ambitions. Nice to aim (very) high though...

Realistically:

United to EWR might work if Lufthansa are able to go more than daily with MUC and potentially FRA to build up a Star Alliance customer base.

Oslo probably stands a chance with Loganair but no more

Air Transat or Westjet might attempt some kind of Canadian destination at a push if the market is right.

Turkish to Istanbul, would probably work but do the airport want to risk Emirates getting peeved off, especially if the Far East market continues to feel the fall out from Coronavirus as the region makes up the majority of EKs onward connections...

Did hear on the grapevine Wizz had expressed an interest which is probably more likely than most of the above

[SWBKCB]

United to EWR might work if Lufthansa are able to go more than daily with MUC and potentially FRA to build up a Star Alliance customer base.

God loves an optomist! :ok:

Turkish to Istanbul, would probably work but do the airport want to risk Emirates getting peeved off, especially if the Far East market continues to feel the fall out from Coronavirus as the region makes up the majority of EKs onward connections...

EK don't seem to shy away from a fight - and DXB has stood up well to ME expansion in Scotland and at MAN.

[long_final]

The main thing with this list from the masterplan, IMO, is where the consistency in demand would come from. Very little business travel in either direction other than hubs, very little inward tourism too. Generally just taking a plane load of Geordies on their holidays, then bringing them all back again. Once everyone from within the catchment area who wants to go has been, that's it, the route gets pulled.

BER was served by EZY back in the 7 based A/C days and got pulled, then they tried again a couple of years back, 2-3 a week, but pulled it once again. Big routes like MAD get pulled too after a season or two.

If anything on the list does come to fruition I'd expect short term, low frequency, as has already been mentioned earlier.

Any airport who can achieve 9-10m pax per year ought to be able to sustain direct flights to NYC. As NCL can't, I'd not hold much hope for ATL. AA tried JFK but pulled it before it even started, then UA failed also. Nobody has an a/c small enough to accommodate the 90ish pax per flight demand and still turn a profit.

EZY aren't interested, FR are reducing their presence more and more, LS are going big at STN and BHX so dont seem to be very cuty break oriented out of NCL other than the ad hoc offerings and PRG. Wizz wouldn't be a bad call as it's hard to see where any new additions would come from.

[YoungJerry]

Didn't easyjet already try Berlin recently? There's no airline alliance hub in Berlin, so a low cost airline is really the only option, and if easyjet couldn't get it to work only Ryanair is really left.

Maybe if there's extra capacity with the new airport (unlikely) someone can try again.

[Jamesair]

Oslo with Loganair is probably the most likely to happen

[HH6702]

The problem has always been more money to be made at other airports.
hopefully with slightly less competition at Manchester and Gatwick with cooks gone we may see less Palmas needed there and this may free up aircraft to come to other local airports to offer new direct flights

cant see anything changing until at least max is flying again.

be nice if operators went after improving profits at the bigger airports rather than market share and having a few empty seats

[HH6702]

Winter now on sale

Newquay is 3x weekly

Guernsey has some departures over the Xmas and new year

Bergen continues during the winter

all good news

[Jamesair]

Plus Brussels 10 weekly
Stavanger 6 weekly
Aberdeen 13 weekly
Bergen is 2 weekly

[SWBKCB]

Dusseldorf dropped for W20/21?

Not sure if I've seen it mentioned previously, but S20 seems to be down to 4 a week (Tues and Thurs dropped).

[LiamNCL]

Few A320s starting to appear on the MUC route i see.

[SWBKCB]

Hmm - there's been one, and two days before it was a CRJ9.

DUS has seen far more upgrades recently, and that's on the way out.

[LiamNCL]

Hmm - there's been one, and two days before it was a CRJ9.

DUS has seen far more upgrades recently, and that's on the way out.

A320 again on the 6th

[Hipennine]

A320 again on the 6th
There seems to be a lot of pre-planned chopping and changing rather than reactive. I am on the outbound on the 22nd, which was originally booked last august. We got notification of an aircraft change to A319 in October. In November, a notification that it will be op'd by Lufthansa Cityline. The online seat map is still showing an A319 for this flight. The return the following week is still shown as op'd by mainline.

I remember when the service was first available for booking it was showing some flights on CR9 in the booking engine from the getgo, so I wouldn't be too concerned about the occasional CR9 service - it's likely been planned that way for a long time.

We've also had a time change notification some time ago for the Muc-Ncl leg.

[simonwa]

Looks like TUI are going to be operating aircraft other than 737-800 this summer. I have a booking for a flight to Naples in July and the seating plan has changed to an aircraft with 6 seats per row and 30 rows. No extra legroom seating.

[LiamNCL]

Looks like TUI are going to be operating aircraft other than 737-800 this summer. I have a booking for a flight to Naples in July and the seating plan has changed to an aircraft with 6 seats per row and 30 rows. No extra legroom seating.

A320 from Avion has been mentioned.

[HH6702]

A320 from Avion has been mentioned.

2x Avion aircraft to join the 2x 738’s

[DanAir89]

2x Avion aircraft to join the 2x 738’s

were Avion very reliability when they operated fromNCL for TCX?

[LiamNCL]

were Avion very reliability when they operated fromNCL for TCX?

I flew on LY-VEN few year ago , basic inside but does the job. NCL wont be the only base with cover this summer.

[Jamesair]

January pax stats are now available on the CAA website.
Good results achieved on :
Paris.. 13,355 up 9%
Dusseldorf....3784 up 13%
Amsterdam....30,075 up 8%
Barcelona.....3373...up 5%
Las Palmas...4816...up 10%
DUBAI.....21,017....up 2%

Aberdeen....3956....up 146%
Heathrow....33,130...up 1%

[ash666]

Looks like Flybe may only keep going till the end of the month.


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-51733405

[ash666]

Not even that, now gone.
I hope the impact on NCL isn't too great.

[GrahamK]

Exeter and Southampton, with Southend not started. Ripe for Loganair if they have aircraft availability.

Sad news for all Flybe employees however

[SWBKCB]

Not even that, now gone.
I hope the impact on NCL isn't too great.
About 11k per month on SOU and 4k on EXT in December, so approx 2.5% in winter (numbers had already started to plummet in January).

[GrahamK]

Loganair NCL-EXT starts 6th July, daily ERJ. NCL-SOU starts 23rd March 3 x daily ERJ

[LBIA]

Eastern Airways to open Southampton - Newcastle route.

https://www.ttgmedia.com/news/eastern-airways-to-operate-independently-after-flybe-demise-21596

[apaul]

Reopening Southampton - Newcastle route in Eastern Airways' case.

[NorthEasterner]

Reopening Southampton - Newcastle route in Eastern Airways' case.

I don't believe T3 have operated NCL-SOU before...

Seems a bit pointless to have two operators on the Southampton route, if anything, Eastern should've perhaps focussed reinstating services at other UK airports or reinstate the NCL-EXT route

[northsands]

I don't believe T3 have operated NCL-SOU before...

T3 flew NCL-SOU for seven years from 2003-10, mostly as an extension of ABZ-NCL

[NorthEasterner]

Apologies.

I'm assuming Flybe then took over this route which prompted T3 to withdraw?

[GrahamK]

There could be room for both. I assume LM will use an ER3, and T3 a J41? Both combined still offer less seats than a Q400

[northsands]

[QUOTE][I'm assuming Flybe then took over this route which prompted T3 to withdraw?/QUOTE]

Actually, for much of T3's previous stint on NCL-SOU, they competed with Flybe, who began their services over the route in autumn 2004 - so the route then sustained two operators for 5+ years.

[HH6702]

I think the market will be able to cope with both.

the problem will be Eastern prices and there reliable service compared to loganairs

[fl dutchman]

Right now its not bookable after 22 March. Are they closing this route to enable Southampton. ???

[HH6702]

Right now its not bookable after 22 March. Are they closing this route to enable Southampton. ???


yes route being dropped

[GrahamK]

I can still book Brussels. Looks to be a few changes to the schedule on several dates but appears normal after August, twice daily

[GrahamK]

I can still book Brussels. Looks to be a few changes to the schedule on several dates but appears normal after August, twice daily


Edit: Never mind, all showing as sold out.
Can't see anyone else going on to this route now then.

[L66MBD]

Just seen Jet2 A321 G-HLYF landing - crew training?

[SWBKCB]

Yes - been in and out all week (and no, we aren't getting them!)

[L66MBD]

Yes - been in and out all week (and no, we aren't getting them!)
I never suggested we could or should be, but thanks

[SWBKCB]

I never suggested we could or should be, but thanks

Sorry, yes - I know you didn't, but surely somebody will!

[Flying Hi]

Total aside - from a left hand side passengers point of view the approach to NCL from the south in clear weather is a Joy. IMO The most scenic final 10 minutes of any descent into a UK airport.
That 90 degree turn to finals around St Marys Lighthouse is magic.
I wonder how many Pilots fly that descent manually?

[jensdad]

Hi Flying Hi, Thanks for your kind words about our neck of the woods. It is pretty scenic, and the view down the River Tyne before you get to St Mary's is pretty iconic too. Have you ever flown into Sumburgh btw? Now that's pretty spectacular. Soz for thread drift.

[P330]

Would agree on the approach. However, I would say it’s one of the bumpiest when the winds are blowing and you’re banking 90 degrees over the lighthouse!

[Chesty Morgan]

I wonder how many Pilots fly that descent manually?
Too busy enjoying the view.

[NCL-TRC]

Edit: Never mind, all showing as sold out.
Can't see anyone else going on to this route now then.

So the airport now has two airlines stealing passengers off each other on SOU at the expense of loosing Brussels... great 🙄

[Hipennine]

[QUOTE][I'm assuming Flybe then took over this route which prompted T3 to withdraw?/QUOTE]

Actually, for much of T3's previous stint on NCL-SOU, they competed with Flybe, who began their services over the route in autumn 2004 - so the route then sustained two operators for 5+ years.

Actually,

Before Eastern, there was an outfit called European Airways, based in NCL, who operated two J31's. After them came Eastern (although there might have been a bit of an overlap) on the Saab. IIRC it grew to 2 or 3 flights on somedays. Then along came Flybe and trashed the fares, so Eastern pulled off. Flybe then reduced the flights per day for a bit, and have only recently upped the frequency to 3 or 4.

[Jamesair]

Not surprised about Brussels....the pax figures have never even remotely recovered to the BMI levels since LM took over the route. On the other hand STV has been rising every month since the LM take over of the route.

[GrahamK]

Some good news, Eurowings to DUS is now on salefor W20/21 again, 5 x weekly (no Tue/Sat flights)

Some changes to the flight times
Sun 19:20 - 21:50 A320
Mon 09:15-11:45 A320
Wed 13:30-16:00 A319
Thu 13:30-16:00 A319
Fri 13:30-16:00 A319

[Falcon900LX]

To add on, The T3 SOU route will be OP by an ERJ145, interesting as their J41's operate the LBA-SOU route, you'd have thought a prop might have been more viable as they've got competition.

[HH6702]

To add on, The T3 SOU route will be OP by an ERJ145, interesting as their J41's operate the LBA-SOU route, you'd have thought a prop might have been more viable as they've got competition.


just shows that they need bigger planes for the route but I’m sure in a few months time the pax numbers will tell the story

[SWBKCB]

you'd have thought a prop might have been more viable as they've got competition.

Don't think the J.41 vs LM ERJ145 would be a fair fight. :ok:

[HH6702]

Don't think the J.41 vs LM ERJ145 would be a fair fight. :ok:

I’m believe even with T3/LM on the route there is still less daily seats available compared to BE had ?